Radhika Apte is all kinds of sexy

The thinking man's pin-up girl reveals more than you've ever known

On first impressions, you could be fooled into imagining Radhika Apte as your eclectic artsy friend from back home, the one you’ve always secretly had a crush on but no courage to ask out.

Except, she’s got Anurag Kashyap on speed dial. And has starred in enough ‘serious cinema’ to earn that unofficial title as the queen of indie films. And drives men to insomnia with those lustrous liquid eyes.

So the truth is, Radhika Apte is just way out of your league.

On her first shoot for GQ, the thinking man’s pin-up talks about making it in the movies, dealing with fans, working with Rajinikanth and more.

On breaking in …

“I have been doing theater for 14 years. We had some shows in Bombay once, and that got me auditions for films. I eventually moved here. Welcome To Badlapur was probably the first big step (into mainstream), since it was commercially successful. I started getting offers that didn’t come my way before. But I don’t think I’ve cracked it yet…”

On dealing with crazed fans and Internet trolls …

“People will draw my portrait and send it to me. Or tell me ‘I dreamt of you’ on Twitter. This one time, I had a couple of people threatening me in the middle of the night. Turns out, it was the guy who had come to install an internet connection in my house. He had seen Shor In The City and knew who I was.”

On the first fan encounter she enjoyed …

“I was at friend’s party in Juhu, waiting for my car. This couple walked up to me and said, “Hey, are you Radhika Apte? We were just talking about you! We want to take pictures with you.” They were so open. They were speaking to me as equals. For the first time, I found myself enjoying that attention. These people actually liked me for my work (in Badlapur and Hunterr). Usually, people are just in awe of your association with the film industry. They want to pose for photos when they don’t even know you or your work. I’ve even been mistaken for a Miss India once.”

“My husband lives in London, and I spend half my time there. I’ve never hidden the fact that I am married. But it does matter to certain directors and actors. And I have been given suggestions to avoid telling people that I am married.”

On Rajinikanth …

“He is the nicest human being I’ve worked with. He works extremely hard. He’s been working non-stop since the 18th of September. In between shots, he goes into a corner and sits there quietly. His entire entourage consists of two people who’ve worked with him for 10 years.”

On doing an item number …

“If the purpose is just to show some skin, then there is no way on earth I am doing that. I have no problem with sensual numbers, but it has to be a reason I agree with. Omkara, for example, had some songs that were really nice. They weren’t just ‘Here, look at my boobs.’

On doing the GQ shoot …

“In front of a film camera I am never nervous. But in front of the still camera, I am always shitting bricks. I get panic attacks. I don’t know how to move in front of the still camera.”